氷

氷 is a compound ideogram combining:

冫 (얼음 빙) — radical signifying ice or cold,

水 (물 수) — water, the base substance being frozen.

Originally, the character depicted water partially solidified — representing the transition between liquid and solid.

In early script, the shape showed two water components beside each other, later stylized into forms representing crystalline stillness.

Relationship between 氷 and 冰

冰 is the original, orthodox form used in China and Taiwan.

氷 is an ancient cursive or simplified variant that later became the standard form in Japan and Korea.

Structurally:

冰 uses the “ice” radical 冫 (two dots of water).

氷 uses the full 水 radical instead.

Thus, though identical in meaning and pronunciation, they belong to different radical families.

Note: when categorizing by radical,

氷 → under 水,

冰 → under 冫.

結氷 (결빙) — freezing, formation of ice

薄氷 (박빙) — thin ice; figuratively, a delicate or risky situation

氷結 (빙결) — freezing solid, ice formation

氷壁 (빙벽) — ice wall, frozen cliff

氷棚 (빙붕) — ice shelf

氷上 (빙상) — on the ice; e.g., ice sports

氷水 (빙수) — ice water, shaved ice dessert

氷板 (빙판) — ice surface, frozen road

氷河 (빙하) — glacier

解氷 (해빙) — thaw, melting of ice; figuratively, easing of tension

Ice was seen as pure water made solid — hence a metaphor for moral integrity and clarity of mind.

In classical poetry, 氷心 (빙심, “heart of ice”) symbolized inner purity or chastity.

「氷壺之潔。」

“As pure as ice in a crystal jar.”

Because of its cold and unmoving nature, 氷 came to represent calmness, cool reason, or aloofness.

Hence expressions such as:

氷冷 (빙랭) — icy coldness.

氷心玉壺 (빙심옥호) — purity and noble character (lit. “ice heart, jade vessel”).

In modern contexts, 氷 and 冰 both describe physical freezing:

結氷點 (결빙점) — freezing point.

氷結現象 (빙결현상) — freezing phenomena in nature.